PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           6 February 2001                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2000047425

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Mr. W. E. Schnupp		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas Lanyi		Member	
	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests that his discharge be updated to reflect the dates he was a prisoner of war (POW) and to show all of the awards to which he is entitled.

3.  The applicant states that he was a POW in Germany from 21 January 1943 to 25 April 1943 and would like this fact included on his discharge.  Additionally, in 1988, he received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medals and would like this information added to his discharge document as well.

4.  In support of his request, he submits a copy of his WD AGO Form 53-55, Enlisted Record and Report of Separation, a Bronze Star Medal (BSM) Certificate showing that he was awarded the BSM for meritorious achievement in World War II and a copy of a Secretary of the Army letter awarding him the POW Medal.

5.  The applicant’s military records show that he was inducted on 20 March 1943, served as a rifleman in the European Theater of Operations from September 1943 to May 1945 and was honorably discharged at demobilization on 26 October 1945 in the grade of corporal.

6.  Awards reflected on his WD AGO Form 53-55 include the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Battle Stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button.

7.  A DA Form 1577, Authorization for Issuance of Awards, shows that the applicant was issued the BSM, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 4 Battle Stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany) and the World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button on 21 June 1988.  The letter from the Secretary of the Army, dated 19 May 1988 indicates that he was issued the POW Medal on that date.

8.  Documentation in his record shows that it was determined he actually was a POW from 21 January 1945 to 25 April 1945, rather than 21 January 1943 to 25 April 1943 as he contends as the latter dates would have been before he arrived in the European Theater of Operations.

9.  Army Regulation 635-5, Separation Documents, provides in pertinent part, that if a soldier has been in a POW status the dates of capture and release will be reflected on his separation document.

10.  Army Regulation 600-8-22, Military Awards, authorized the American Campaign Medal for service in the American Theater between 7 December 1941 and 2 March 1946.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  Considering the applicant’s dates and location of service during World War II, he is entitled to award of the American Campaign Medal.

2.  Also, evidence in the record shows that he is entitled to have the BSM, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany) and the POW Medal added to the list of awards already shown on his WD AGO Form 53-55.

3.  Additionally, the dates of his period of captivity as a POW (21 January 1945 to 25 April 1945) should be shown on the separation document as provided for under current regulations.

4.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by:

	a.  showing that the individual concerned was a POW from 21 January 1945 to 25 April 1945;

	b.  showing that he is authorized to have the BSM, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany) and the POW Medal added to the list of awards on his WD AGO Form 53-55; and

c.  issuing to him a correction to his WD AGO Form 53-55 reflecting the above mentioned changes and additions.

BOARD VOTE:  

___rvo___  ____tl __  ___wtm__ GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________ GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________ DENY APPLICATION

		__________Raymond V. O'Connor, Jr.___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2000047425	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20010206	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	(GRANT PLUS)	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.  107.00		
2.   110.04		
3.   130.00		
4.		
5.		
6.